Creamy Chewy Cookiewiches

Are you salivating yet? 

I made these delicious chewy gingerbread and cream cheese cookies last week during a study break. Nothing like text book readings to put a girl into a baking mood. I modified a recipe from the multi-talented Bakerella after I was unable to find red velvet cake mix. Instead, I used spiced cake mix, added extra cinnamon and nutmeg, and used light butter and cream cheese for the filling. 

The best part of all : They're so easy, quick, and affordable... you shouldn't even feel bad that I didn't give you one. 

Nom, nom, nom. 

Loose Leaves

I've most recently become obsessed with acquiring tea. Luckily for my conscience and the earth, loose leaf tea is incredibly sustainable! I get my aromatic fixes from Steeps and Teaopia, their selections are large and  even the smallest tea packets last for months. You can even read your tea leaves after consumption Professor Trelawney style. Waste efficient, loose leaf tea neglects bags and individual packaging; although I argue that bagged organic tea is still considerably eco-friendly since you can compost the used bags.  

Recommended tea flavors:

Loose leaves-

Steeps: After Seven, Organic Peppermint, Gingerbread, Banana Cream, and Creativity
Teaopia: Mojito Raspberry Mint, Coco Caramel, Masala Chai

Organic and bagged-

Mighty Leaf: Orange Dulce, Vanilla Bean, Grean Tea Tropical, Chocolate Mint Truffle,  African Nectar

Tazo: Refresh, Calm, Earl Grey, Passion, Berry Blossom

My Rose and Fresh Mint tea recipe! 

Last but not least, loose leaves calls for tea diffusers, such as this incredibly creative/terrifying one: 

Turn over a new eco-leaf. 

You're Late For Tea!

Source: WeHeartIt

Here is a recipe for delicious fresh mint tea: 

 1. Add a cap full of rose water to every cup -1/2 of water. Put into a pot to boil, wait for the bubbles...then

2. add a cube and half of raw sugar to each cup -1/2 liquid... but wait you must

3. add a few stems of fresh mint and cover and let boil... be patient it'll only take a few minutes

4. then you're welcome to put it into an adorable mug and enjoy! 

And a very merry unbirthday to you, unless it is your birthday in which case happy birthday! 

MAD SKilllZZ

Source: FFFound

This summer I have promised myself that I will learn these essential skills (Because boyfriends only want girlfriends who have... no just kidding I won't take it to Napoleon Dynamite levels) :

1. How to Cook
2. How to Drive
3. How to use Adobe Work Suite
4. How to go a year without a 2 month vacation

Thus far I've mostly worked on  number one,  how to cook. So here are two recipes I successfully completed and devoured last week (I love you Food Network):

Crepes with Caramelized Apples 

These were actually surprisingly easy. Perhaps just because I've watched my mother make crepes my entire life. My suggestion: water down the batter quite a bit and use a teflon pan

Recipe from Laura Caulder, the wonderful host of French Food at Home. 

Coconut Cupcakes

These were for my dad's birthday as his (it's heritable) favorite flavor is also coconut. 

I recommend using more icing sugar than stated in the recipe and a little bit less lemon juice and more vanilla. 

Recipe by Trish Magwood

As for everything else, I think driving school and a course in Adobe will help me out... number four is the biggest issue. If my blog entries seem to abruptly stop mid July, consider myself in Europe. 

Skills, get some! *Hip Thrust*

Choose Choklat

This Valentine's week's eco-delicacy.

www.sochoklat.com

Choklat is a local chocolate maker and specialty truffle shoppe. Although, they do have to import their rare coco beans from South America, they are one of two Canadian chocolatiers that actually make their own chocolate from the beans. They're essentially a micro-refinery for coco products! Their Choklat is the best I've ever tasted, and thanks to Valentine's Day and my boyfriend I have an entire box of customized truffles to enjoy.  It also has a  large stake in community  involvement for such a small business; with 50% of the purchase price of each box of 10 truffles going to Calgary's grassroots and non profit organizations. 

Visit the small store in Inglewood S.E. Calgary, or their website. 

Mother nature's best friend, Choklat.